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A Woman's Touch
Makeup Lesson #1: Foundation
By Jean Wendy Farrell
As everyone of us girls knows, a good makeover starts from the ground up. In this case, working with the basics: a good beard cover and foundation.
When working with the beard cover, it is best to choose a shade close to your own skin tone, but preferably a shade lighter as you are going to be applying a foundation over that. Although there are many to choose from, I recommend Lydia O'Leary's Covermark as the product par excellence. Although it has a heavier consistency than some, it is not too sticky and can be applied smoothly and evenly without much difficulty.
Once you have the product in hand, I suggest using your fingertips for this part rather than sponges. Take a small amount on the tip of your finger and apply smoothly over the area where there is beard shadow. (REMEMBER: shave closely prior to application as it avoids the embarrassment of hairs sticking out through the make up. No beard cover can mask that, unless you want to try spackle!) However, do not over-use the product. Just a small amount is all that is needed to remove all traces of beard shadow.
Once you have that step down, the next is application of the foundation. The rule of thumb is to keep the shade close to your own. However, it is my experience that if you are very fair skinned, a foundation of your own skin tone has a tendency to make you look positively ghoulish, particularly if you tend to go for a wig that isn't your natural hair color. In fact, it is often better to choose a foundation that comes somewhere between your natural skin tone and one that is compatible with the wig you will be wearing. I recommend blending a liquid foundation with a creme for a better consistency and smoother, more natural skin tone. Remember, no one's face is a solid mask of color but a variation of light and dark shading.
The liquid foundation should be applied first. This time a sponge is recommended as it is messy to use your fingers. Again, don't use too much, just enough to pat smoothly onto the face. Particularly, where there is already beard cover, it is important to dab, rather than rub, it into your skin as I have unfortunately seen too many ladies do.
After the liquid is applied, then the creme foundation is used. Again it is back to the fingertips for this one. But be gentle with it. I can't stress the gentleness factor enough. If it is smeared on it will make a mess of the groundwork already laid.
Once both the foundations have been applied, I then usually apply highlights like creme rouges to bring out the cheek bones, reduce the jaw line, etc. But that is for another lesson!
When all the steps are accomplished, the finale is the application of setting powder. This is used to remove all stickiness from the skin and add a nice smooth healthy glow/finish to your face. A loose powder is best. If you are fair skinned choose a light shade, or if darker, a medium shade is recommended. Then, utilizing a powder puff gently pat the powder into place wherever you have applied your foundation. Check to make sure that you didn't miss a spot and then, voila!, step back to admire your handiwork.
You are now ready for your next lesson!
Wendy is a professionally trained makeup artist. She runs a transformation service in Brooklyn, New York. Feel free to contact her with your questions. She can be reached at WomansTouc@aol.com and visit
Wendy's Web Site too!
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